Sea cucumber processing apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

An improved apparatus for processing sea cucumbers having stages for orienting/aligning, cutting, splitting, flattening, eviscerating and cleaning the sea cucumber, and for collecting the eviscerated innards. A method for the automated splitting and evisceration of sea cucumbers using the apparatus of the present disclosure. A flattening plate and trough during the orienting/aligning step relax the sea cucumber and discourage its defence mechanisms. A wedge shaped flattening plate splits and flattens the sea cucumber immediately after the incision. Pronged discs maintain positioning of the sea cucumber during an aggressive wash and brush cleaning cycle, which may be repeated. Optionally, a vacuum may suction off a portion of the innards prior to cleaning.

FIELD

This invention relates generally to the field of seafood processing; andmore specifically to apparatuses and methods for processing seacucumbers.

BACKGROUND

Sea cucumbers are marine animals from the phylum echinoderm and classHolothuroidea. Of the more than 1250 species worldwide, many aregathered for human consumption or grown in aquaculture systems. Likeother echinoderms, sea cucumbers have pentagonal radial symmetry. Butunlike starfish, they are oriented with soft, cylindrical bodies likethey are lying on their sides. Sea cucumbers have a leathery skincovering an endoskeleton of calcified structures of isolated microscopicossicles (or sclerietes) joined by connective tissue and fivelongitudinal muscle bands. The body walls of sea cucumbers are formed ofcatch collagen fibers, which can be loosened and tightened by theanimals, permitted them to either form a hard endoskeleton through theirdermis layer or effectively liquefy their connective tissue and pourthemselves through small openings and then reconnect the collagen into afirm consistency on the other side. The mouth is located at the oralend, identified by a circle of branching tentacles about it, and theanus opens at the aboral end, defining an aboral/oral axis. The internalorgans (viscera) of the sea cucumber lay within the tube-like bodychamber also referred to as the coelomic cavity. Certain of the speciesalso discharge the toxic chemical holothurin (named for the class ofspecies) as a defense mechanism when startled.

They range in length from less than 1 centimetre to almost a metre(though most are between 10 cm and 30 cm in length) and in thickness upto 30 cm.

The great variations in size and shape, and the animal's defensivetechniques, make it difficult to process either by hand or machine evenwithin a single species.

SUMMARY

This disclosure relates to certain improvements in automated processingof sea cucumbers, and in particular to the steps of aligning, cutting,splitting, eviscerating and cleaning the sea cucumber, and optionallycollecting the eviscerated material.

The apparatus comprises an aligning stage characterized by a narrowinginput channel which encourages the sea cucumber to relax the collagenfibers to fit through the input channel. The channel is not so narrow asto excite the defense mechanisms of the sea cucumber, but sufficient todiscourage the sea cucumber from hardening. This stage also aligns thesea cucumber along its longitudinally axis (i.e. along its aboral/oralaxis) directly in front of a blade. In its simplest form, with theprocessing direction of the apparatus vertical, the input channel couldbe a truncated cone through which the sea cucumber is dropped orencouraged to squeeze. In a horizontal operation, conveyor belts pullthe sea cucumber through the aligning stage under the blade.

The apparatus may also comprise a cutting/splitting/flattening stage. Ablade partially nestled in front of a wedge, and positioned to cut asingle longitudinal incision through only one side of the body wall ofthe sea cucumber as it exits the input channel. A blade extendingapproximately to the midpoint of the narrow exit from the input channelwould suffice, and a shallower or deeper cut is also within the scope ofthe device, provided that some portion of the body wall on the oppositeside of the sea cucumber from the full incision is left intact. Thewedge is positioned to split the sea cucumber at the point of incisionas the sea cucumber progresses (either by gravity, conveyor belts, waterpressure or some other means) past the blade. The wedge is formed in theleading/front edge of a first flattening plate, so as the sea cucumberis split, it is immediately sandwiched between the underside of thefirst flattening plate and the opposite side of the processing channelreferred to for convenience as the second flattening plate, which mightalso be a conveyor belt or some other surface.

Once aligned, cut and split, the sea cucumber is available for furtherprocessing in a modular fashion. As it is typically desirable to removethe sea cucumber innards/viscera for other uses or simply for cleaningprior to eating, the next stage discussed is the evisceration andcleaning stage. The apparatus may be adapted for vacuum evisceration byproviding a hole in the first flattening plate after the wedge, and avacuum tube connected at that hole to suck the viscera as the seacucumber is pulled or pushed along the processing line. Alternatively oradditionally, brushes and water jets immediately following the firstflattening plate spray and rinse the exposed body cavity/coelomic cavityof the sea cucumber. In order to overcome the forces from the brushesand water which might accelerate the sea cucumber through the apparatuswithout completing the cleaning, pronged restriction discs moving at thedesired speed can control the velocity of the sea cucumber without undueharm to the meat. Multiple cleaning stages may be used.

For convenience, in the discussion below, we assume the blade is abovethe sea cucumber as it moves horizontally through the apparatus by meansof conveyor belts, but may be oriented below or to the side providedthat the wedge is positioned in a corresponding fashion.

In horizontal operation, the sea cucumber is positioned longitudinallyin on a middle belt within a series of parallel belts forming a trough,which pull the sea cucumber towards a cutting blade (including a bladeor circular saw). An upper guide together with the lower trough may alsoform an input channel to squeeze the sea cucumber or form a narrowingpassage towards the blade. The blade is disposed to cut the upper halfof the aligned sea cucumber from mouth to anus, but may slightly over orunder cut within the tolerance of the device and differences in the seacucumbers. The blade may be of adjustable height. The functionality andstructure of parts in the cutting stage provides an automated cuttingmechanism for sea cucumber processing.

Immediately past the blade, a wedge shaped flattening plate ispositioned to spread the cut in the sea cucumber made by the blade andsandwich the split carcass against the opposite side of the device. Theflattening plate prevents the sea cucumber from rolling back into itselfafter being cut, and facilitates processing. The front flattening platemay be in a plane parallel to that of the one or more conveyor beltswhich follow the blade. Alternatively, the upper front flattening platemay be inclined slightly to narrow the space above the conveyor belt inthe direction of motion within the device. The functionality andstructure of parts in the splitting stage provides an automatedsplitting and flattening mechanism for sea cucumber processing.

Alternatively, the front flattening plate may be provided with a hole topermit a suction attachment to remove viscera of the sea cucumberpassing below the hole, as an optional evisceration vacuum at thecommencement of the cleaning stage.

After the trailing edge of the flattening plate, the scrub and rinsestyle evisceration and cleaning stage of the apparatus involves one ormore cylindrical brushes and a water jet manifold which scrub and rinsethe sea cucumber viscera from the meat. The positions of the partsprevent the sea cucumber meat from rolling into itself within any gapsin the upper flattening plates. To further prevent the brushes and waterjets from accelerating the sea cucumber through the machine, additionalpronged discs between the conveyor belts may provide additionalresistance and keep the sea cucumber from sliding off its position onthe conveyor belt as it passes through the cleaning stage. Thefunctionality and structure of parts in the cleaning stage provides anautomated evisceration and cleaning stage for sea cucumber processing.

Trays beneath the cleaning stage may capture the water and visceramaterial for straining and further processing of the viscera, or simplyto hygienically process and dispose of the waste water.

Following the cleaning stage, additional upper flattening plates may beused to keep the sea cumber in the easier to process flattened state asthe sea cucumber is directed for further processing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The apparatus and method will be described in relation to the drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an example sea cucumber processingmachine.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the sea cucumber processing machineof FIG. 1 from which the housing has been removed to expose the parts.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the exposed sea cucumber processing machine ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the machine lower assembly 1 of theexposed sea cucumber processing machine of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the machine lower assembly 1 of the exposed seacucumber processing machine of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the machine upper assembly 2 of theexposed sea cucumber processing machine of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the machine upper assembly 2 of the exposed seacucumber processing machine of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the restriction discs of the machine lowerassembly 1 of the exposed sea cucumber processing machine of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the brush assembly of the machine upperassembly 2 of the exposed sea cucumber processing machine of FIG. 2.

FIG. 10(a) is a top view of the machine of FIG. 2 with the housing andsupport structure removed.

FIG. 10(b) is a side view of the machine of FIG. 2 with the housing andsupport structure removed.

FIG. 11(a) and FIG. 11(b) are top and side views, respectively,corresponding to FIG. 10(a) and FIG. 10(b), with a sea cucumber 37meeting the cutting stage.

FIG. 12(a) and FIG. 12(b) are top and side views, respectively,corresponding to FIG. 10(a) and FIG. 10(b), with the sea cucumber 37entering the splitting stage.

FIG. 13(a) and FIG. 13(b) are top and side views, respectively,corresponding to FIG. 10(a) and FIG. 10(b), with the sea cucumber 37exiting the splitting stage.

FIG. 14(a) and FIG. 14(b) are top and side views, respectively,corresponding to FIG. 10(a) and FIG. 10(b), with the sea cucumber 37below the vacuum hole 38 in the front flattening plate 23.

FIG. 15(a) and FIG. 15(b) are top and side views, respectively,corresponding to FIG. 10(a) and FIG. 10(b), with the processed seacucumber 37 in the cleaning stage.

FIG. 16(a) and FIG. 16(b) are top and side views, respectively,corresponding to FIG. 10(a) and FIG. 10(b), with the processed seacucumber 37 departing the cleaning stage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more examples of the sea cucumber processing machine and therelated methods of use will now be explained in greater detail withreference to the accompanying figures.

In one aspect, as shown in FIG. 1, the sea cucumber processing apparatusis a complete machine 27 having a lower feed guide 12, a housing 28, andan output chute 4. A sea cucumber is placed, either by a user or from anorienting device, longitudinally in the lower feed guide 12 from wherethe sea cucumber would be pulled into the machine for processing. In theexample shown, the machine's lower assembly 1 supports a sea cucumbercarcass through the operational steps of cutting, splitting, flattening,cleaning and outputting the meat for possible packaging or furtherprocessing. The machine 27 may comprise a viscera collection tray 3 tocollect and process waste water and sea cucumber viscera for otherpurposes.

FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 each show different view of the sameexample machine or parts thereof from different angles and exposure.

In FIG. 2 the housing has been removed, and the machine lower assembly 1is shown connected to the machine upper assembly 2. Also shown are theviscera collection tray 3 and output chute 4.

In FIG. 3, the machine upper assembly 2 is opened for cleaning from backhinge 29 and held open by forward struts 30.

FIG. 4 shows only the machine lower assembly 1, in which a stand 31supports a transport assembly 32 comprising front belt guide plate 11,rear belt guide plate 10, lower feed guide 12, belt tensioner assembly13, optional rear restriction disc assembly 14, optional frontrestriction disc assembly 15, drive roller assembly 16, and a pluralityof spiked belts, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. The spikes on the middle belt 7 gripa sea cucumber to pull it into the machine for processing, and thespikes on the other belts grip the sea cucumber skin as the sea cucumberis progressively cut, split and flattened in the machine. Together, thespiked belts, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, form a conveyor belt, and the gapsbetween the spiked belts can be referred to as conveyor belt spacings orsimply spacings.

As shown in FIG. 5, as the drive roller assembly 16 turns, the spikedbelts 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, move at a common speed about the tensioningassembly 13. Optional rear restriction disc assembly 14 and frontrestriction disc assembly 15 have restriction discs with radial prongsprotruding above the conveyor belt spacings to provide additionalconnection to the sea cucumber to prevent the sea cucumber from movingfaster than the belts during the cleaning stages—discussed furtherbelow.

FIG. 6 shows the machine upper assembly 2, with upper feed guideassembly 18, for positioning above the lower feed guide assembly 1 so asto form a narrowing input channel. As the sea cucumber is pulled by thebelt into the machine, the upper feed guide assembly 18 and lower feedguide assembly 12 center the sea cucumber as it is directed into themachine. The front water spray manifold 19, rear water spray manifold 20and rear flattening plate 17 are also shown.

In the side view of FIG. 7, the blade 25 is sized and positioned to cutthe upper skin, muscle and wall of the sea cucumber without cutting thelower wall. In the example shown (as more particularly shown in FIGS.10(a) and 10(b)), the blade 25 is positioned within slots/guides of theforward point of the wedge 33 and the front flattening plate assembly23. The forward point of the wedge 33 spreads the incision formed by theblade, and resists the natural tendency of the sea cucumber flesh toroll inward upon itself when cut, and splits the cut sea cucumberoutward and flattens it for further processing. The front flatteningplate assembly 23 maintains the sea cucumber in a flat position andprevents the inward roll. In the example shown, the belt 7, then belts6, 7, 8 and finally all belts 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, pull the cut and splitsea cucumber past the wedge portion of the front flattening plateassembly 23, and under the wide portion of the front flattening plateassembly 23. Other belt configurations or designs are possible,including a single belt (in which can the restriction discs could bemounted between the brushes. The configuration in the example permitsthe optional rear restriction disc assembly 14 and front restrictiondisc assembly 15 to be used as shown.

The evisceration stage of sea cucumber processing presents a number ofdesign challenges related to the tendency of the sea cucumber to rolland slip. In the example shown, the evisceration stage of the machineaddresses these design challenges and includes some features foradditional robustness. At a basis level, the sea cucumber is pulled bythe belts as it is pressed between the belts and the upper flatteningplate. As it is pulled past the trailing edge 35 of the front flatteningplate 23 a front roller brush 22 scrubs the visceral material from theexposed meat of the sea cucumber, and then the sea cucumber is pressedby the intermediate plate 26 (alternatively referred to as the firstpost-cleaning flattening plate) without sufficient gap to permit the seacucumber meat to roll upward between the brush and the plates.Additionally, the water jets of the front water spray manifold 19 spraywater onto the bristles 34 of the brushes 21 and 22, as they passbetween the gap formed by the brush roller 22 and the trailing edge 35of the front plate 23.

As shown in FIG. 8, in order to further prevent the brushes and waterfrom accelerating the sea cucumber forward without cleaning, the prongs36 on the front restriction disc assembly 15 prevent the sea cucumberfrom moving substantially faster than the belts 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Therear restriction disc assembly 14 provides the function in respect ofthe rear brushes and water. The water and visceral material falls intowater and viscera collection tray 3 (shown in FIG. 3), where it can bestrained for collection of the viscera and the water safely collectedfor treatment.

Optionally, a vacuum attachment may be positioned above the frontflattening plate 23 to pull the viscera upward through opening 38 in thefront flattening plate as the sea cucumber is pulled along by the belts5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. The bulk of the viscera is detached from the innerwall of the sea cucumber and transported by vacuum to a collectionvessel. The remaining viscera may then be removed by the brushes 21 and22, and spray nozzles 19 and 20. Viscera removed by vacuum is more wholethan viscera removed by brushing and can be of higher quality.

Optionally, in the example of FIG. 7, the flattening plate after thefront brush assembly is the centre flattening plate 26, and it isfollowed by a second stage of cleaning by rear brush assembly 21, rearwater spray manifold 20, rear restriction disc assembly 14 (as shown inFIG. 8), and the belts 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 before further flattening by therear flattening plate assembly 17. The second stage cleaning happens inan analogous fashion to the first stage. Although it is within the scopeof the invention for the brushes and water to point in the otherdirection and using the driving restriction discs to provide additionalforward force, the system functions more smoothly with all partsencouraging motion through the machine. A common water and visceracollection tray 3 (of FIG. 3), can be used to collect the viscera andthe water from both the first and second stages of cleaning.

Finally, the belts 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 pull the split and cleaned seacucumber to a discharge area for further processing. In the exampleshown, the discharge area is a chute, but it could also be towards askin removal stage, skin cleaning stage, cooker, drying, freezer orother processing machinery which adapted to receive sea cucumber whichhas been cleaned, split and flattened.

FIGS. 10 through 16 show the live sea cucumber 37 as it enters themachine (FIGS. 10(a) and (b)), is guided into the cutting blade (FIGS.11(a) and (b)), is cut and progressively flattened by the frontflattening plate (FIGS. 12(a) and (b) and 13(a) and (b)). The cut, splitand flattened sea cucumber 37 passes through the machine beneath theflattening plates to an optional viscera suction mechanism (FIGS. 14(a)and (b)), or simply goes to the cleaning stage of the spray nozzles andbrushes (FIGS. 15(a) and (b)), and the fully processed sea cucumberejected from the machine by the belts (FIGS. 16(a) and (b)).

The advantages of the method of processing the sea cucumber using thedevice disclosed herein can be described in one or more of the followingsteps or stages in reference to the figures:

-   -   i. Aligning—FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b): the sea cucumber 37 is        aligned and elongated by an input channel formed where an upper        feed guide 18 forms a channel with a lower feed guide 12 to        align the sea cucumber 37;    -   ii. Cutting—FIGS. 11(a), 11(b), 12(a) and 12(b): the sea        cucumber 37 is cut by a blade 25 positioned vertically over the        centre of the lower feed guide 12, and the incision goes from        skin surface, through an upper lateral wall to viscera without        cutting a bottom lateral wall, from mouth to anus of the sea        cucumber, as the conveyor belt 7 pulls the sea cucumber 37;    -   iii. Splitting—FIGS. 11(a), 11(b), 12(a) and 12(b): the sea        cucumber 37 is split by a forward flattening plate 23 having a        wedge shaped leading edge 33 disposed about a trailing edge of        the blade 25, which splits the sea cucumber 37 along the cut as        the conveyor belt 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 pulls the sea cucumber under        a bottom side of the forward flattening plate 23;    -   iv. Flattening—FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b): the sea cucumber 37 is now        flattened between forward flattening plate 23 and the opposite        side of processing channel on which the convey belts belt 5, 6,        7, 8 and 9 pull the sea cucumber for additional processing.    -   v. Optional Evisceration—FIGS. 14(a) and 14(b): the sea cucumber        37 may be eviscerated in a manner to preserve high quality        viscera material for future processing by a vacuum nozzle and        hole 38 in the front flattening plate 23 which permit removal of        some viscera by suction during flattening.    -   vi. Cleaning—FIGS. 15(a) and 15(b): Two stages of cleaning are        shown. A first cleaning stage, where at a front gap between a        trailing edge 35 of the front flattening plate 23 and a leading        edge of a central flattening plate 26, a rotating front brush 22        scrubs viscera from the inner wall of the sea cucumber 37 and a        front water spray manifold 19 sprays water on the front brush 22        where the front brush 22 contacts the sea cucumber 37 while        restraining prongs 36 on a front restriction disc 15 (see        FIG. 8) which protrude above the conveyor belt 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9        to attach under the sea cucumber 37 to resist acceleration of        the sea cucumber 37 by the front brush 22, as the conveyor 5, 6,        7, 8 and 9 pulls the sea cucumber 37 towards a second cleaning        stage, where at a rear gap between a trailing edge of the        central flattening plate 26 and a leading edge of a rear        flattening plate 17, a rotating rear brush 21 scrubs the inner        wall of the sea cucumber and a rear water spray manifold 20        sprays water on the rear brush 21 where the rear brush 21        contacts the sea cucumber 37 while restraining prongs 36 on a        rear restriction disc 14 (see FIG. 8) which protrude above the        conveyor belt 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 to attach under the sea cucumber        37 to resist acceleration of the sea cucumber by the rear brush        21.    -   vii. Output—FIGS. 16(a) and 16(b) show the sea cucumber 37:        exiting the apparatus past the rear flattening plate 17.

The foregoing examples and advantages are merely exemplary and are notto be construed as limiting the present inventions. The present teachingcan be readily applied to other types of apparatuses and machines, oruse thereof. Also, the descriptions of the examples of the presentinventions are intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scopeof the claims, and many alternatives, modifications, and variations willbe apparent to those skilled in the art. In particular, the individualstructural elements claimed as being may be practiced alone and not incombination with other stages of the machine and remain independentlyinventive.

1. A sea cucumber processing apparatus comprising: a. a conveyor beltfor moving a sea cucumber successively through the apparatus; b. a bladepositioned to make an incision through the sea cucumber body walllongitudinally from mouth to anus as the sea cucumber is moved by theconveyor belt, exposing viscera, and c. a wedge formed in a forward edgeof a first flattening plate disposed about a trailing edge of the blade,the first flattening plate positioned to create a first flattening gapbetween the conveyor belt and the first flattening plate to flatten thesea cucumber against the conveyor belt and prevent inward rolling. 2.The sea cucumber processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conveyorbelt comprises a plurality of belt portions spaced apart by spacings,and wherein the conveyor belt continues past the first flattening platetowards one or more cleaning stages each comprising: a. one or morerotating brushes and water jets to scrub viscera from sea cucumber, b.where between spacings in the conveyor belt, one or more restrainingdiscs opposite the rotating brushes have radial prongs protruding abovethe conveyor belt are limited to rotating at the speed of the conveyorbelt; and c. a post-cleaning flattening plate after the rotatingbrushes.
 3. The sea cucumber processing apparatus of claim 2 furthercomprising trays below the conveyor belt to collect waste water andviscera.
 4. The sea cucumber processing apparatus of claim 1 wherein thefirst flattening plate has a hole after the wedge connected to a vacuumto suction exposed viscera of the sea cucumber through the hole forseparate collection and processing.
 5. The sea cucumber processingapparatus of claim 1 wherein the first flattening plate is parallel tothe conveyor belt.
 6. The sea cucumber processing apparatus of claim 1wherein the first flattening plate inclines towards the conveyor beltafter the wedge to narrow the first flattening gap.
 7. The sea cucumberprocessing apparatus of claim 1 wherein a cutting depth of the blade isadjustable.
 8. The sea cucumber processing apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe conveyor belt comprises a plurality of belt portions spaced apart byspacings, and the apparatus, and the apparatus further comprises: a. oneor more cleaning stages after the first flattening plate, eachcomprising: i. one or more rotating brushes and water jets to scrubviscera from sea cucumber; ii. where between spacings in the conveyorbelt, one or more restraining discs opposite the rotating brushes haveradial prongs protruding above the conveyor belt are limited to rotatingat the speed of the conveyor belt; iii. a post-cleaning flattening plateafter the rotating brushes; wherein iv. a distance between the rotatingbrushes and the post-cleaning flattening plate is too narrow to receivesea cucumber carcass; b. trays below the conveyor belt to collect wastewater and visera; c. the first flattening plate has a hole after thewedge connected to a vacuum to suction exposed viscera of the seacucumber through the hole for separate collection and processing; d. thefirst flattening plate inclines towards the conveyor belt after thewedge to narrow the first flattening gap; and e. a cutting depth of theblade is adjustable.
 9. A method of processing a sea cucumber comprisingthe steps of: a. Obtaining a sea cucumber; b. Placing the sea cucumberlongitudinally on a conveyor belt in an input channel formed between alower feed guide and an upper feed guide narrowing in the direction ofthe conveyor belt; c. Conveying the sea cucumber through the inputchannel to align and elongate the sea cucumber for additionalprocessing; d. Cutting, with a blade, an incision longitudinally throughan upper body wall of the sea cucumber, from mouth to anus as the seacucumber is conveyed through an exit from the input channel; and e.Splitting the incision in the sea cucumber by conveying the sea cucumberinto a wedge disposed about the blade.
 10. (canceled)
 11. The method ofclaim 9 further comprising the steps of: f. Flattening the sea cucumberby conveying it into a first flattening gap between the first flatteningplate and the conveyor belt.
 12. The method of claim 10 furthercomprising the steps of: g. Cleaning exposed viscera from the seacucumber by conveying the sea cucumber through one of more cleaningstages after the first flattening plate in which: i. rotating brushesand water jets scrub and rinse the sea cucumber, while radial prongsrotating at the speed of the conveyor built belt prevent acceleration ofthe sea cucumber during cleaning; and ii. immediately after the rotatingbrushes, a post-cleaning flattening plate restricts the sea cucumberfrom rolling inward or about the brushes as the sea cucumber moves withthe conveyor belt.
 13. The method of claim 12 further comprising thesteps of: f.1 suctioning exposed viscera from the sea cucumber through ahole in the first flattening plate as the sea cucumber is conveyedbeneath the first flattening plate.
 14. An apparatus for processing seacucumber comprising: an input channel for receiving, aligning, andelongating a sea cucumber; a blade positioned after the input channel tocut an incision longitudinally through one side of a body wall of a seacucumber, as the sea cucumber exits the input channel; and a forwardwedge of a first flattening plate disposed about a trailing edge of theblade.
 15. (canceled)
 16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein: theforward wedge includes a slot, and the blade extends into the slot.